Posted To Facebook: Mom's Intention To Kill 6mo Baby Boy

[Dakota]

https://www.facebook.com/melanie.reyes.1257

The Marion County Sheriff's Office is investigating an attempted murder-suicide Friday that left a child dead in Ocala.

Investigators said Melanie Reyes, 20, posted on Facebook that she was going to kill her 6-month-old child, Jona Mendoza.

Authorities said the grandmother and Jona’s father saw the post and called the sheriff's office, asking to do a well-being check on Reyes.

Officials said when deputies arrived at the home on NW 45th Court, they found Reyes and Jona shot, but still alive.

Reyes and Jona were hospitalized, but Jona died a short time later, authorities said.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/conten...-after-mom-posted/hlar_xDm4ku6XyxJPByEuA.cspx

Melanie Reyes was listed in critical condition Friday afternoon at Ocala Regional Medical Center. Her child, identified by authorities as Jonah Mendoza, was pronounced dead shortly after 1 p.m.
[...]

Detectives said Reyes lived at the home with her mother and stepfather. The firearm — a handgun — was recovered.

Authorities said Reyes' biological father and stepmother, who live out of state, called the Sheriff's Office at 11:18 a.m. because of a suicide post seen on Reyes' Facebook page.

Deputies went to the home and found Reyes and the baby in a back bedroom. No one else was home.
[...]

Jonah was born June 14 at Munroe Regional Medical Center, according to his birth announcement.

On June 29, after receiving a call from Reyes, deputies responded to a home in the 4300 block of Northwest 80th Avenue. Reyes had a dispute with the child's father, Jordan A. Mendoza, because she would not allow him to hold the baby.

No one was arrested. The incident report notes that Mendoza became upset, so Reyes left. It also noted he was kicking Reyes' car as she drove away.

Mendoza filed a petition in August asking the court to formally establish and recognize his paternity and arrange for a child visitation plan.

One month later Reyes responded vehemently in a letter to the court, accusing Mendoza of being irresponsible, untrustworthy and violent. She said he once tried to drive her off the road and said he drinks when he gets upset.

Reyes said she did not want Mendoza's name on the child's birth certificate.

"If he wanted the child to have his last name he should of thought about that and signed the birth certificate when he had the chance," she wrote.

According to Reyes' letter, Mendoza reneged on an agreement to put $30 per paycheck into a special account for the child.

"He may buy stuff for the baby but I don't get it or take it," she wrote to the court. "I tried to make compromise with him but he doesn't like any of my offers. I let him see the baby two or three times a week for several hours but I do not let the baby stay the night with him alone, simply because I DO NOT trust him."

She went on to note that she was a good and caring mother to Jonah.

"I no longer want to live in this state nor country and I can't make a better life for me and my son because of Jordan," she wrote. "I need to (sic) and rather get out of this state to stay away from him."

She concluded: "I truly believe I have Jonah's best interest at hand since I've been there for him since Day 1 taking care of him and 9 months before."
[...]

The paternity matter was still pending, according to court records. A final hearing was scheduled for Feb. 21.

While that matter was playing out, Reyes also was doing battle in criminal court.

She was arrested on Dec. 20 and charged with aggravated domestic battery after being accused of attacking her boyfriend at the time, Marcelino Febo.

Febo told authorities the two had been arguing all day and that Reyes had been in the process of moving out, according to an arrest affidavit.

He said he went out to get something and Reyes approached him carrying a wooden baseball bat that was about 2 feet long. Febo said Reyes swung, hit him in the back, and then swung again and hit him on the wrist, the report said.

Reyes told authorities after her arrest that she and Febo had been arguing over the use of her car. She said Febo had thrown her to the ground and called her explicit names.

"She (Reyes) advised that the name calling continued and she got tired of it so she grabbed the bat and swung at him," the report said.

Reyes also told authorities that she had bitten Febo earlier in the day when the arguing first began.

Reyes posted a $2,500 bond the day after her arrest and was released from the Marion County Jail.

Among the court's conditions for her release: no ownership or possession of firearms, ammunition or other weapons.

Febo had a restraining order issued against Reyes following the arrest.
[...]

Luis "Wicho" Martinez, who said he is a friend of Reyes', texted a message to a Star-Banner reporter late Friday. It read:

"Melanie Reyes is a prime example of a sweet smart loving young single mother, victim of neglect and domestic violence, some of the most serious issues being overlooked and ignored by too many in our society these days ... If not for the lack of resources in this country for these types of issues we would be saving many more lives as a society.

"Please, look at the big picture and help your loved ones out. If you can't help them find someone who can because a person with this kind of mentality obviously can sometimes no longer help themselves. My sincere love and condolences go out to Melanie and her family."

http://www.gainesville.com/article/...ad-mom-injured-after-attempted-murder-suicide

 

[HeatherHabilatory]

She deserves NONE of my sympathy. Yeah, being a single parent is hard. Yeah, being a victim of domestic violence is hard.
LIFE is fucking HARD. No reason to shoot your fucking baby.
Ten bucks says Mendoza wasn't that sweet baby's father and THAT'S why the poor tyke is dead now.

 

[Silvahalo]

My bet is the father appearing to want to be in baby's life did not want a relationship with her.
Reyes decided, if you don't want me, I'm taking what you do want.
It's heart sickening and no matter the reason, nothing will ever make it right.

Thinking post partum depression mixed with reality through the eyes of a 20 year old and a broken heart.

. . .
Jonah was shot and killed by his mother Friday morning. The mom, Melanie Reyes, shot herself as well. But she survived and remained hospitalized Saturday afternoon.
“There are no words to adequately express the devastation of the Mendoza family and friends regarding the death of little Jonah Mendoza, such a young and vibrant child who had many years of life and happiness ahead of him,” reads the statement, which the Ocala law office of Christina Miller issued.
The three-paragraph, single-page release added Jordan Mendoza loved his son “very much” and wished to be a part of his son's life “as every good father does.” It notes Mendoza had been involved in litigation regarding Jonah's best interest.
. . . more.

What a beautiful baby, just precious.
Rest in peace littlest baby Jonah Mendoza....angel kisses.

 

[TKaz]

I could have written her words. I allowed my ex limited time with my daughter because I didn't trust him. We argued over money for the baby. We couldn't agree on anything.
But he just wanted to fight with me, when a better offer came a long he left. She should've just waited it out, the ex would've been non-existant within 3 yrs.
THis is another reason young people shouldn't have babies. When we're that young we don't think shit out, we decide with our heart. I never killed anyone...but I definitely made rash decisions.

 

[thatsmallgrl]

She died a few days after this thread was started.

The young mother who killed her 6-month-old boy and turned the weapon on herself last week was taken off life support early Tuesday and pronounced dead.

According to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report, Melanie Reyes, 20, was pregnant. She and the father of the unborn child, Marcelino Febo, 21, had discussed going for an abortion on Jan. 5.

The day before that, with deputies at her front door conducting a well-being check, Reyes shot and killed her son, Jonah Mendoza, and then herself.

In addition to an ongoing paternity battle involving Jonah's father, Reyes also faced prosecution in criminal court for a domestic dispute involving Febo. She was arrested Dec. 20 and accused of striking him with a small baseball bat.

Febo told Myers that Reyes was four weeks pregnant with his child and they were going to an abortion clinic on Jan. 5. He said they had recently separated because he was moving back to Australia.

Mongeluzzo was told by a medical examiner's investigator that Reyes actually was 14 to 18 weeks pregnant.

Two days before the shooting, Febo said, Reyes had texted him threats that she would harm Jonah and commit suicide.

The young man said the last time he spoke to Reyes was shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, when he was heading to class. He told her he would call her when he was finished. He said when he got out of class he turned on his phone and found out what had happened.

Jose Elias, Reyes' stepfather, told the inspector that Reyes and her son lived with him. Reyes and Jonah's father, Jordan Mendoza, were “going through issues.”

He said Febo and his stepdaughter were having problems, as well, as evidenced by the Dec. 20 arrest.

On New Year's Day, Elias said, Jordan Mendoza had called law enforcement officials to register a complaint against Reyes, but no one was arrested. Elias said Mendoza and Reyes were in court over “custody issues” and Mendoza wanted visitation rights.

He said though Reyes had “anger issues” she had never shown suicidal tendencies. However, he said she may have been suffering from post-partum depression.

Mendoza told law officers that Reyes was sending him messages that he “was going to have the last tears.”

Messages between the two, which were shown to the inspector, showed that after Reyes told Mendoza about the last tears, he replied, “I know I will either way … you will still come out on top … you always do .. plz leave me alone.”

Reyes responded that she was glad he finally “gets it but it wasn't the cherry on the cake” and ended with “ull b tagged in it shortly.”

Mendoza told the inspector that was not the first time Reyes has threatened to kill his son and that he had called police. He said they recently argued because he wouldn't take her to her ex-boyfriend's house and Reyes slapped him in the face with a wine bottle.

The copy of the Facebook posting Reyes put up Friday was shown to the inspector. The message read like an obituary: “This is Melaine & Jonah Reyes they passed away today by suicide.” It continues by saying the reason for the tragedy was because “Melanie had been stressed and depressed.”

Reyes gave multiple reasons for stress, including arguing with Febo, whom she said she didn't trust; arguing with her mother; going to court to fight for her child; and fighting with Mendoza.

She said she didn't want to leave her son "in this world with people she did not trust beside her father but he was just too far to get to.”

The post added, “After sobbing from taking the life of her child, the mother then turned the gun to her head and took her own life & her unexpected unborn child.”

It ended: “So can we please pray for my/their families .. R.I.P. Melanie & Jonah always and forever in our hearts.”

Reyes shot herself at least twice in the head. She shot Jonah twice in the chest. The weapon was a 9mm handgun, which was recovered on scene.

Inside the bedroom with the bodies was a suicide note. It stated: “He's not goin to win or take my child & I don't want him @ our funeral.”

Detectives said the gun belongs to Reyes' stepfather, who had it locked up in his bedroom. The man is a corrections officer.

Reyes got into the locked bedroom somehow and took the gun from a case next to the bed.

Jordan Mendoza's attorney, Christina Miller, said late Tuesday her client “wants them (Reyes' family) to grieve without any intrusion from him.” He also “wants to grieve in private, without judgment from anyone.”

"He cares very deeply for her and her family,” the attorney said.

http://www.ocala.com/news/20130108/mom-who-killed-son-taken-off-life-support

 

[araisner]

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Jonah Mendoza